Casting machine trough shifting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A trough shifting mechanism is provided, for a centrifugal casting machine of the deLavaud type, suspended by hinged members attached to elevated support members. The mechanism is suspended in such a manner as to offer stability for mounting one or more troughs or for mounting a trough and a spray lance. All shifter tracks, wheels or slide ways are eliminated and the shifting actuator may be a cylinder, rack and pinion or other similar device. Apparatus for dumping the trough may also be provided.

Inventor: William A. Montgomery,

US. Cl. 222/478; 141/391; 164/298; 425/435 Int. Cl. B22D 37/00 Field of Search 141/331, 106, 365, 391; 164/298-301; 222/461, 478; 425/435 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1967 Walker 164/301 United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,915,356

Montgomery Oct. 28, 1975 CASTING MACHINE TROUGH SHIFTING 3,456,716 7/1969 Lorang 164/301 APPARATUS 3,522,837 8/1970 Giguere 164/299 Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-David A. Scherbel Attorney, Agent, or FirmJames W. Grace [57] ABSTRACT A trough shifting mechanism is provided, for a centrifugal casting machine of the deLavaud type, suspended by hinged members attached to elevated support members. The mechanism is suspended in such a manner as to offer stability for mounting one or more troughs or for mounting a trough and a spray lance. All shifter tracks, wheels or slide ways are eliminated and the shifting actuator may be a cylinder, rack and pinion or other similar device. Apparatus for dumping the trough may also be provided.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 4 I4- 38? [ZMZO 2 0 Y Z 2 20W) 426 w 36 Z4- Z0 U.S. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Sheet10f3 3,915,356

a as; ,2 a 4 a i US. "Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 2 of 3 3,915,356

1 CASTING MACHINE TROUGH SHIFIING APPARATUS Background of the Invention The present invention relates to the field 'of centrifu gal casting machines of the deLavaud type for casting pipe or tubes and, more specifically, to that portion of a centrifugal casting machine wherein a mechanism moves the longitudinal pouring trough in a direction at a right angle to its longitudinal axis.

Such mechanisms are well known in the art and are generally referred to as trough shifters. An early model trough shifter is described in US. Pat. No. 1,489,032 and a later model is described in US. Pat. No. 3,334,683. Devices similar to those described in the above mentioned patents have been used for many years. Due to the environment in which such devices must operate, it is difficult to prevent malfunctions. These shifter mechanisms are located just beneath the machine ladle and the trough chute into which the machine ladle pours molten metal and are usually operated by fluid power devices. Many tons of iron are poured each day from a transfer ladle into the. machine ladle and then from the machine ladle into the trough chute. Due to various reasons molten metal is spilled or splashed in such manner as to cause unusual wear, uneven movement and occasionally complete failure of the shifter mechanism. Splash guards-and covers have been devised and offer protection; however, such means prevent access for inspection and maintenance. The problem is further aggravated by the necessity to take or skim slag from the machine ladle and the need to pour a liquid refractory on the trough chute. This refractory is also spilled or splashed in such a manner as to find its way onto the rollers, rails or slideways of the shifting mechanism. Various scrapers and wipers have been employed to automatically clean the running surfaces of rails or slideways and such have proven partially effective. However, malfunctions continue to occur interrupting production and at times requiring the entire casting machine to be taken out of service since control switches are actuated by the mechanism as it changes position. These control switches must, for successful operation, function flawlessly; however, of necessity, they are in the same environment. Thus, malfunctions occur also due to spilled or splashed molten metal, slag or refractory damaging these control switches. Besides causing interruptions to the operation of the casting machine, the above described maladies cause an erratic or rough travel of the shifter causing the cantilevered troughs or lance to wave severely. This waving can result in improper flow of the molten metal down the trough, splashing of the metal as it exits the trough onto the mold and in some cases destruction of the trough due to hitting the mold or machine.

Summary of the Invention The present invention is a highly stable smooth operating shifter mechanism suspended from a support structure above the elevation of the trough,'chute, and machine ladle. The invention further provides an operating mechanism and control switches and valves which are conveniently located in such a manner that they are not affected by spills or splashes of molten metal, slag or refractory. The suspension system is simple and easily maintained. Complete access to the control valves, switches and actuating mechanism is provided even during operation of the casting machine. Also, should a trough dumping mechanism be desired, it may be mounted on the shifter and the control valves and switches mounted along with the shifter controls.

Brief Description of the Drawing FIG. 1 is an elevation view looking parallel to the Ion gitudinal axis of the trough.

FIG. 2 is a partial elevation view looking to the longitudinal axis of the trough.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view looking parallel to the lon-' gitudinal axis of the trough and showing analternate embodiment.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments .The present invention can be better understood by referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1. Applicants trough shifter is suspended from beams 10 by means of brackets 12 attached thereto and hinge pins 14 inserted into holes provided in the brackets and pins 14 further extending through tubular members 16 (shown in FIG. 2) to which upright members 18 have been welded. The hinge pins 14 are held axially by snap rings 20. At the lower extremity of upright members 18 and welded thereto are tubular members 22 (shown in FIG. 2) through which hinge pins 24 extend. Hinge pins 24 also extend through brackets 26 and are held axially by snap rings 20. Brackets 26 are welded to support plate 28 upon which troughs 30 and 31 are mounted in a conventional manner well known to those familiar with the art. An air or hydraulic cylinder 34 is trunnion mounted opposite each of two uprights 18. The cylinder rod is attached to the nearest upright 18 in such a manner that actuation of the cylinder swings the uprights 18 and thus the support plate 28 and all it supports to and fro much like a swing. Since it is important that the troughs 30 and 31 be positioned properly each time the shifter moves, an adjustable stop mechanism 36 is provided. It is preferred to limit the stroke of the cylinder on the in stroke and mount the cylinder such that the full out stroke is used. However, should it be more convenient adjustable stops can be employed in both directions. Also, a single cylinder attached to only one upright 18 or to support plate 28 may be used in place of the preferred two cylinders 34 described above. A limit switch 38 is actuated by limit switch striker 40 which is attached to one upright 18 and thus moves to and fro with the upright. This limit switch 38 signals a control valve 42 for cylinders 34. The cylinders 34, control valve 42 and limit switch 38, along with piping and wiring, are protected by providing a sturdy enclosure 44. The enclosure also provides room for other valves controlling other mechanisms of the casting machine as well as an anchoring point for beams 10. The enclosure 44 may be provided with an access door and other desired conveniences not a part of the present invention.

In an alternate embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, uprights 18 are placed closer together and support plate 28 cantilevered beyond one pair of uprights 18 with lance 32 between the uprights and trough 30 attached to the cantilevered portion of support plate 28. Such an arrangement offers more clearance above the trough for overhead crane service and shortens the cantilevered portion of beams 10.

Theshifter mechanism is so located that in the unshifted position trough 30 is directly in line with machine ladle 46 and support plate 28 is substantially horizontal.

In operation the troughs 30 and 31 are aligned with the mold 48 or, if a spray lance is being used, trough 30 and lance 32 are aligned with the mold 48. The mold 48 is positioned in front of the upwardly curving portion of trough 30 and molten metal from machine ladle 46 is dumped into the trough 30. The mold 48 is rotated and metal from trough 30 pours onto the rotating mold 48 which is retracted from the trough which distributes molten metal along the length of the mold. When sufficient metal has been poured, the machine ladle ceases to pour and the metal poured runs down the trough with the exception of a very small portion which solidifies in the trough. This solidified portion called a splinter should be removed prior to casting again in the mold. Removal may be accomplished by mechanically rotating the trough to an inverted position or by manually picking out the splinter. In either case the time required for removing the splinter and performing any other required trough preparation can delay any subsequent cast. Thus, the first used trough is shifted clear of the machine travel and the second trough is shifted into alignment with the mold, thus allowing a subsequent cast to commence without delay due to trough preparation.

While the preferred embodiment and an alternate of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the details shown. Various modifications of structure and operating procedure will be obvious to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for shifting the trough of a centrifugal pipe casting machine of the retraction casting type comprising:

a. an elevated support member;

b. at least upright suspension member hingedly connected at its upper end to said elevated supported member and suspended therefrom;

c. a support plate hingedly connected to the lower end of said at least one upright suspension member;

d. at least one trough attached to said support plate;

and

e. means for reciprocating said at least one upright suspension member to move said trough from a first to a second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an equipment enclosure is provided adjacent said apparatus; and

said reciprocating means is partially located within said enclosure.

3. An apparatus for shifting the trough of a centrifugal pipe casting machine as recited in claim 2 in which said support plate has an adjustable stop connected thereto and said adjustable stop is also connected to said equipment enclosure.

4. An apparatus for shifting the trough of a centrifugal pipe casting machine as recited in claim 1 in which said support plate has at least one trough and at least one lance attached thereon.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3 3,915,356

DATED I Oct. 28, 1975 INVENTOR(S) William A. Montgomery It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1, line 5, after "least", insert one.

Signed and Scaled this ninth Day of March 1976 [SEAL] A ttes t:

RUTH C. M ASON C. MARSHALL DANN AIIPSImg jjl' t Commissioner vfPalenIs and Trademarks 

1. An apparatus for shifting the trough of a centrifugal pipe casting machine of the retraction casting type comprising: a. an elevated support member; b. at least upright suspension member hingedly connected at its upper end to said elevated supported member and suspended therefrom; c. a support plate hingedly connected to the lower end of said at least one upright suspension member; d. at least one trough attached to said support plate; and e. means for reciprocating said at least one upright suspension member to move said trough from a first to a second position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an equipment enclosure is provided adjacent said apparatus; and said reciprocating means is partially located within said enclosure.
 3. An apparatus for shifting the trough of a centrifugal pipe casting machine as recited in claim 2 in which said support plate has an adjustable stop connected thereto and said adjustable stop is also connected to said equipment enclosure.
 4. An apparatus for shifting the trough of a centrifugal pipe casting machine as recited in claim 1 in which said support plate has at least one trough and at least one lance attached thereon. 